Rossi has been in Toledo since 2003 and has been making noise around the country as of late.

Karlos Rossi. Photo by Mighty Wyte.

“I submitted some of my new tracks to DJ Winn down in Florida a little while back, and I ended up getting a spot on the Coast2Coast mixtape,” Rossi said. “I’ve been busy doin’ shows all over Ohio, Michigan and Florida since then.”

Rossi is currently working on a new album titled “Roscoe P. Coletrain” and the record already boasts a healthy list of local and national producers as well as artist features.

“I’ve got beats from Mally Speaks, B. Jones, and Sinima Beats. I also have some features from Yung D (formerly of Three Six Mafia), Whitehouse, Philly P, Nino Graye and others,” Rossi said.

Rossi, who is not content to release one album at a time, said he will be releasing a mixtape before his new album.

“I will be putting out a mixtape called ‘Rossi Balboa’ before the album drops. There’s so much good stuff that won’t make it on the album; instead of letting it just sit and be forgotten about, I’ll put it out as a mixtape a couple of months before the actual album,” Rossi said.

Rossi described his style as “laid-back storytelling, a little more sophisticated. I put a lot of emphasis on storytelling. That’s because a lot of my major influences include Tupac, Nas and Andre 3000.”

“I’m just tryin’ to do something positive with the music, keep hip-hop alive” Rossi said. “What I make isn’t the same as what you hear all over the radio and YouTube anymore. It’s not just about being positive though; it’s about giving the audience something with substance, music that has something to say. I fell that real hip-hop faded and there’s a lot of dumbed-down music now. I want people to have something to think about after they finish listening to my CD.”

While Rossi continues to work on his new album and mixtape, he’s making sure to stay visible and keep performing.

“Toledo artists have a lot in common, especially the hip-hop artists,” Rossi said. “I just wish people would come out and be more supportive of each other. That’s the only way we’re going to be able to support more shows and have more open venues to perform in.”

Rossi is performing at The Rocket Bar on Sept. 7. The “Occupy Hip-Hop” show is all ages and doors open at 8 p.m. Door charge is $5.